Article of footwear



Jan. 30, 1951 w rr A 2,539,761

ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR Filed July 3, 1948 Patented Jan. 30, 1951 ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR Hyman L. Whitman, East Bridgewater, Mass., as-

signor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 3, 1948, Serial No. 37,002

9 Claims. (01. 36--2.5)

' This invention relates to an article of footwear having :a foot-retaining member, and more specifically to such an article having means for preventing the foot of the wearer from creeping or slipping forward in the shoe.

It isan object of this invention to provide an article of footwear which will retain the foot of the wearer in the proper relative position in respect to the article of footwear and will prevent the foot from slipping or s'iding forward in the shoe. It is a further object to provide a member for an article of footwear which in cooperation with the laces of the vent opening will retain the foot of the wearer in the proper position. Another object is to provide an article of footwear which will provide improved side balance for the foot of the wearer. Other objects will be apparent from the description which follows.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a rubber-soled canvas shoe with a foot-retaining member;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same shoe;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a shoe with another embodiment of the foot-retaining member;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the shoe of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective, partlybroken away, of a shoe with a third embodiment of the foot-retaining member.

The shoe shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is a canvas and rubber sports shoe which has a foot-retaining member comprising a pair of opposed straps H, 12. As shown in Fig. 3 the straps ll, l2 are secured at their lower ends between the sole [3 and insole M. The straps H, i2 then pass along the inner side of the upper and through the grommets l6. Loops I! are formed at the upper ends of the straps H, i2 by doubling the straps and stitching. The stitches 29 are shown as short dotted lines at the upper ends of the straps It and 12. The lace I8 passes through the loops H as shown in Fig. 2.

. Another embodiment which may be used is shown in Figs.4 and 5. In this embodiment the footretaining straps 2 i, 22 do not pass through a grommet in the upper but instead pass along the inner face of the uppers 23, 24 to the instep. The ends of the straps are looped as before to receive the lace of the shoe, and are secured at their lower ends to the lower portion of the uppers adjacent the insole by stitches 25. Another embodiment is shown in Fig. 6. Here the f oot retaining straps 25, 21 are stitched. to the 2 outsides of the uppers 28, all the way from that area of the upper adjacent the sole I3 to the eyelet row 33. The straps 26, 21 have eyelets 34 at their upper ends to receive the lace l8. This embodiment may be used with any article of footwear having soft and flexible uppers, such as a rubber-soled canvas shoe.

. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the shoe has a foot-retention member comprising straps which pass through grommets in the upper. In each embodiment the retention members are firmly secured to the article of footwear at their lower ends on opposite sides of the sole portion adjacent the region normally underlying the heads of the metatarsals, and extend upwardly to approximately the top of the instep. The upper ends of the members are yieldably secured by means of the lace of the shoe, which serves to cushion the shock when the foot is forced forwardly against the shoe and to distribute the pressure along the extent of the eyelet rows. It is preferred that the lower ends of the retention members be positioned immediately to the rear of the heads of the first and fifth metartarsals of the foot. In general, the foot-retention member acts as a bandage which affords added support to the foot of the wearer.

The present invention prevents the foot of the wearer from slipping, sliding, or creeping forward when the foot comes to a sudden stop. When a sudden stop is made the foot of the wearer tends to move forward in the shoe but with the first forward movement of the foot the laces of the shoe tighten and the laces then tighten the strap. The tightening of the straps of the retaining member limits the forward motion of the foot in the shoe. By so doing, the foot of the wearer is maintained in the proper relationship with the shoe, and the shocks of running or jumping are transmitted to the proper portion of the foot and cushioned by the proper portion of the sole and insole of the shoe. 7

By securing the foot in such a manner, better side balance is possible for the wearer both while standing and running. In addition damage to the wearers toes is prevented during sudden stops or turns. These bandage-straps in conjunction with the lace of the shoe provide a means of retaining the foot in the proper relationship with the shoe, and in addition to the prevention of cramming of the toes, the foot of the wearer is afforded better balance and added stability even when r the wearer starts, turns, and stops suddenly.

.The present invention tends to prevent flattening of the transverse arch, hammer toes, corns,

and other common foot ailments. In addition the foot-retention member tends to hold the metatarsals together in their normal alignment and thus avoid metatarsalgia.

Other modifications and combinations may be used. The straps comprising the foot-retention member may be secured at the lower ends of the straps by either of the5m'ethods discussed or by both, or by any other suitable manner. Straps may be adhered to the uppers by using one of the common adhesives. The straps may also be sewed to the upper along the entire length oft-he strap as shown in Fig. 6 instead of being secured only at the lower end of the strap. The straps can be secured to the closure meansin any suitable manner.

Any suitable strong, flexible material maybe used for the foot-retaining straps, such as leather, fabric, rubber-coated fabric, etc. The present invention may be embodied in any article of footwear made of "leather, fabric, rubber, or the like and is particularly'adaptedto a laced shoe, such as a lace-to-toe, balmoral, or the like.

While I have herein disclosed specific embodiments -ofmy invention, I do not intend to limit myself thereto but ratherintend to include all of the obvious variationsand modifications with-in the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Iclaim:

'1. An article of footwear having asole portion and an 'upper'portion with a front vent opening provided with a closure means and having footretaining means adapted to limit the forward motion'of the foot within said-article-comprising a plurality -of -opposed, foot-engaging, arcuate strap members extending from the reg-ions of theopposite edges of the said sole portion adjacent the region extending from the tuberosity of the proximal phalan'ges'to the-rear of the metatarsal heads, upwardly 'and'rearwardly to a position slightly above the middle of the foot then upwardly and forwardly to a position over the top 'of the instep, each'of said strap members being secured to said article at its'lower end and engaged by said'closure means at'its upper end.

2. An article of footwearhaving-a sole portion comprising an ou'tsole and an insole, an upper portion with a front vent opening provided with a closure means, and a foot-retaining means adapted to limit the forward motionof the foot within said article, said foot-retaining means comprising a pairof opposed, arcuate strap-members having their lower ends secured between said outsole and-insole at opposite edges of said sole portion adjacent the zone extending from the tuberosity of the proximal phalanges to the rear of the metatarsal heads and having their upper ends yieldably secured by said closure means, said straps extending upwardly andrearwardly along the inner face of said upper from the sole portion to a pair of opposed apertures in said upper, through said .oppoie'd apertures, and then upwardlyand forwardly along'the outer face of said upper to said closure means at a position over the top of the instep.

3. An article ofifootwear having asole portion, an upper portion with a front ventopening provided with a :closure means, and a foot-retaining means adapted to limit forward motion of the foot withinsaid-article, said foot-retaining means comprising a pair of opposed, arcuate strap members secured by stitching to said :upper just above said sale at that portiono'f the upper extending from the tuberosity oflthe :proximal phalanges tion including an outside and an insole, an upper portion with a front vent opening provided with 'l'aceand eyelet closure means, and a foot-retaining means comprising a pair of opposed, arcuate bandage straps having their lower ends secured between saidoutsole and insole at the outer edges of the sole portion extending from the tuberosity of the proximal iphalanges to the rear of the metatarsal heads and having their upper ends slida'bly engaged by said lace, said straps extending from said sole portion upwardly and rearwar'dly to a position slightly abov'e'the middle-of the foot then upwardly and forwardly to said laceat a position over the top of the instep.

5. An article of footwear comprising-a- -sole-pon tion, an upper portion with a front'vent openin'g provided with lace and eyelet closure means, and a foot-retaining means comprising a pair-of opposed, arcuate strap members secured 30y stitching to the outer side of said upper and extending from opposite edges of said sole-portion adjacent the region reaching from thetuberos'ity of the proximal phalanges to the rear of the metatarsal heads, upwardly and rearwardly "to a position slightly above the middle of the foot then upwardly and forwardly to said closure means at a position over the top-of the instep,

said-strap members having eyelets at their upper ends engaging said lace.

6. An article of footwear comprising a sole, an upper portion with a front vent opening provided with a lace and eyelet closure meanspand a footretaining means comprising a pair of-opposed, arcuate strap members extending from opposite edges 'of said sole adjacent the region reaching fromthe tuberosity of the proximal phalanges to therear of the metatarsal heads, upwardly and rearwardly along the outer faces of said uppers to a position slightly above the middle-o'fthe foot and upwardly and forwardly to a position slightly above the middle of the foot and upwardly and forwardly to said closure means at a position over the top of the instep, said strap members being stitched to the said upper along substantially the entire length of said straps, and having loopsat their upper ends which engage the'lace.

7. An article of footwear comprising a sole, an upper portion with a front vent opening provided with a lace and eyelet closure means, and a footretaining means comprising a pair of opposed, arcuate strap members extending, from the opposite edges of said sole adjacent the region reaching from the tuberosity of the proximal phalanges to the rear of the metatarsal heads, upwardly and rearwardly along the inner faces of said uppers to a position slightl above the middle of the foot then upwardly and forwardly 'to a position over the top of the instep, said strap members being stitched to said uppers along substantially the entire length of said straps, and having loops at the upper ends which receive the lace.

8. An article of footwear comprising a sole portion and an upper portion having a front vent opening extending over the top of the instep, a

-' lace and eyelet closure-means for said opening,

and a pair of opposed, arcuate foot-retaining straps secured at their lower. ends to said upper portion at the region reaching from the tuberosity of the proximal phalanges to the rear of the metatarsal heads, said straps extending upwardly and rearwardly to a position slightly above the middle of the foot then upwardly and forwardly to approximately the margins of said vent opening, and being sli-dably engaged by said lace at their upper ends so that tightening of said lace urges said upper ends toward each other.

9. An article of footwear comprising a sole portion and a soft, flexible upper portion having a front vent opening extending over the top of the instep, a lace and eyelet closure means for said opening, and a pair of opposed, foot-retaining, arcuate straps secured at their lower ends to said upper portion at the region reaching from the tuberosity of the proximal phalanges to the rear of the metatarsal heads, said straps extending upwardly and rearwardly along the outer face of the wall of said upper to a position slightly above the middle of the foot and upwardly and forwardly to approximately the margins of said vent opening, and being slidably engaged by said lace at their upper ends so that tightening of said lace urges said upper ends toward each other.

HYMAN L. WHITMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,236,424 Graydon Aug. 14, 1917 1,269,518 Bain June 11, 1918 1,560,023 Dennert Nov. 3, 1925 1,845,031 Arthur Feb. 16, 1932 1,976,819 Weller Oct. 16, 1934 1,986,580 Johnson Jan. 1, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,737 Switzerland Feb. 25, 1892 171,021 Switzerland Jan. 2, 1935 276,816 Great Britain Sept. 8, 1927 424,545 Great Britain -1 Feb. 22, 1935 455,012 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1937 512,499 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1939 569,694 France Jan. 9, 1924 790,312 France Sept. 2, 1935 

